Effect of food blockage as a control method for Hypsipyla grandella Zeller in mahogany plantations

Alonzo A.L.; Salinas I.A.; Terrel W.L.P.; Picón G.A.P.; López R.E.A.; Villa L.V.V. · Investigacion Operacional (2025)

Resumen

In the Peruvian tropics, red cedar and mahogany are two forest species highly valued by foresters for reforestation projects. However, both species face a common enemy: the caterpillar or larva of Hypsipyla grandella Zeller, which feeds on the pith of the stem. Despite the efforts made, forestry scientists have not yet found an effective method to control this pest, resulting in severe and inevitable damage to cedar and mahogany plantations. In this context, the research was resumed, proposing the evaluation of food blocking as a method of controlling the caterpillar. To do this, one, two and three pins placed in the cross section of the stem were used, forming a barrier to stop the advance of the caterpillar. These pins were placed every two, four and six months. The evaluations showed that blocking with three pins is the most effective in stopping the advance of the caterpillar, while the frequency of placement did not have a significant impact on the control of the pest. Some collected data were represented in contingency tables and the Pearson´s test was applied. The Chi-square test was applied to other data. The main goal is to determine which treatment is the statistically most effective enough. Finally, we obtained a polynomial which maps the distance between pins and the effectiveness with the support of the Lagrange polynomials of interpolation, we calculated this way approximately the maximal distance which maximizes the effectiveness of the treatment.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Ucayali